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Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada
24 June 2003 12:01AM EST (top)
18 June 2004 10:22PM EST (bottom)
My thanks to Dr. J. Donald Lafontaine of Agriculture Canada for confirming my identification of the specimen
illustrated at top above, which was collected and given to the Canadian National
Collection in Ottawa. I have found it somewhat confusing to distinguish
between Metalectra discalis and Metalectra quadrisignata (Hodges
8500), both of which occur in my area, but the ground color of the wing and the
heavy shading in the inner half of the median of Metalectra discalis seem
to be useful clues for telling the two species apart.
The ground color of the forewing of Metalectra discalis is
light yellowish tan, but the wing is heavily mottled and marked with dark brown
to black, with a few touches of reddish brown. Scalloped basal and
antemedial lines are usually evident, of the background color with dark shading
on either side. A broad blackish shade covers most of the median, and
almost obscures the more solid black reniform spot, which sometimes shows a
reddish brown tone. The postmedial line is difficult to see except at the
costa, but its curve can usually be traced by the series of near-white dots
adjacent to its outer edge. Outside the pm line, there is considerable
dark shading, with a near-black patch at the costal edge. The terminal
line is most visible as a series of whitish dots adjacent to the dark gray
fringe. The pattern of the hindwing is similarly complex, the inner half
of the hindwing being heavily shaded with black, and the outer half more
mottled. Usually there is a distinct reddish patch in the lighter area
near the middle of the hindwing, visible when the moth rests with its wings
mostly open as appears to be its usual resting habit. According to Covell
(1984), the wingspan ranges from 2.0 to 2.9 cm.
Metalectra discalis is sometimes called the Common Fungus
Moth (Covell, 1984), doubtless because its larvae feed on dry mushrooms or other
fungi. Handfield (1999) indicates an adult flight season from about mid-June
nearly to mid-August for my general area.
My records to date for Metalectra discalis (each date
representing "the night of") are in the table below: | 
